Guntars Krasts

Guntars Krasts (born 16 October 1957 in Riga) is a Latvian politician, former Prime Minister, and former Member of the European Parliament for the single Latvia constituency. Born in Riga, he was the Minister of Economy of Latvia from December 1995 to August 1997, Prime Minister of Latvia from August 1997 to November 1998, and the Deputy Prime Minister from November 1998 to June 1999. Krasts was a member of Saeima, the Latvian parliament, from June 1999 until being elected to the European Parliament in 2004.[1]

Guntars Krasts
5th Prime Minister of Latvia
In office 7 August 1997 – 26 November 1998
President	Guntis Ulmanis
Preceded by	Andris Šķēle
Succeeded by	Vilis Krištopans
Minister of the Economy
In office 21 December 1995 – 7 August 1997
Prime Minister	Andris Šķēle
Preceded by	Jānis Zvanītājs
Succeeded by	Atis Sausnītis
Member of the European Parliament for Latvia
In office 2004–2009
Personal details
Born	16 October 1957 Riga, Latvia
Political party	For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK (until 2008) Libertas Latvia (2008-2010) Latvian Association of Regions (since 2018)
Alma mater	University of Latvia

Guntars Krasts in the European institutions

Guntars Krasts was elected in the 2004 Euroelections as MEP for the single Latvia constituency as a member of For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK.[2] He sits with the Union for a Europe of Nations group (UEN).[3] He left For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK in February 2008 but joined no other party.[2][4][5] As of 31 March 2009, his European Parliament profile shows no national party membership.[3]

On 28 March 2008, Libertas Latvia gave a press conference in which Krasts was named as the head of the Libertas Latvia list.[6] The list would total eight candidates to contend the nine seats assigned to the single Latvia constituency.[6] In the EP elections of 2009, the Libertas.lv list fell short of entering parliament, receiving 4,3% of the vote.

Later activities

After the elections, Krasts distanced himself from politics, working in a United Nations and European Union project in Moldova as an government advisor for state reform and EU integration for the Moldovan government.[7] In 2018, it was announced that he had joined the Latvian Association of Regions.[8]

See also

• Krasts cabinet

References

1. "MEP profile: Guntars Krasts". European Parliament. Retrieved 10 June 2008.
2. "EP velešanam sarakstu lideri izraudziti", 7 February 2009, from diena.lv, English translation here
3. European Parliament archive entry for Guntars Krasts (incl. Membership)
4. "Krasts neizslēdz iespēju pamest politiku", 7 February 2009, from diena.lv, English translation here
5. "Vaidere leaves For Fatherland and Freedom/LNNK", 19 February 2008, from balticbusinessnews.com
6. "Former Latvian Prime Minister to lead Libertas Latvia Campaign", Saturday, 28 March 2009 14:27, from the libertas.eu website
7. "Krasts tuvākajā laikā neiesaistīsies Latvijas politikā" (in Latvian). Diena. 2 June 2010. Retrieved 20 March 2018.
8. "Ekspremjers Guntars Krasts pievienojies Latvijas Reģionu apvienībai" (in Latvian). TVNET. 29 January 2018. Retrieved 20 March 2018.